Ornamental band and process for making same



Dec. 6, 1938. H 1. FARNSWORTH 2,139,541

I ORNAMENTAL BAND AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME Filed July 5, 1936 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORNAIWENTAL BAND AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME Application July 3, 1936, Serial No. 88,739

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an ornamental band and the process of making the same, and more particularly to the manufacture of ornamental bands such as bracelets, rings and the like, made of a plastic material.

An object of the invention is to provide a seamless curved band of plastic material having an ornamental design molded on its periphery.

A further object is to provide a process for simplifying and reducing the cost of the manufac ture of such articles.

It is well known that it is impracticable to mold a design around a curved peripheral surface. Heretofore, in making ornamental bracelets and the like, it has been customary to mold the design on a fiat strip of material, which strip was then bent in curved form and its ends united by means of cement or otherwise. My invention provides a method of manufacturing seamless molded ornamental bands or bracelets.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a blank from which the bracelet is made;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the bracelet in the initial stage of the turning operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the bracelet in an intermediate stage of the turning operation;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the bracelet in the final stage of turning operation; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the finished bracelet.

Referring now to the drawing, I indicates a circular blank from which the ornamental band or bracelet is manufactured. The blank is made of any suitable plastic material, preferably a thermoplastic material, such as a cellulose acetate composition, Celluloid or the like.

One face of the blank is molded with an ornamental design, preferably a design in relief, such as the floral design I l, the opposite face of the blank I2 is left smooth and flat. The molded design may, if desired, extend over the side of the blank as shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. l, the molded design is shown as extending only around one-quarter of the blank, but it will be understood of course that it extends completely around the blank.

After the blank has been formed and molded, it is turned through an angle of substantially 90 to bring the molded design II on the periphery,

as shown in Fig. 6, where the completed bracelet or ornamental band is illustrated in perspective.

In Figs. 3-5, I have illustrated a die for turning the blank, it will be understood, however, that any suitable apparatus or tool may be used for this purpose. The die consists of a male member l3 comprising a base It and a cylindrical form having a tapered or rounded end l6, and a female member ll having a cavity i8 formed with an internal shoulder l9.

In carrying out the invention, the blank ID, with its ornamented surface upwards, is placed around the tapered end l6 of the male member of the die. The female member is then moved down over the male member, to upset or turn the blank as indicated in Fig. 4, so as to bring the surface having the molded design I l on the outside or periphery of the band and the smooth surface 12 on the inside. To facilitate the turning operation either the blank or the die, or both, may be heated to soften the plastic material sufliciently to permit of turning but not materially to distort the molded design.

In some instances the female member of the die may be dispensed with, in which case the blank is pulled down around the cylindrical form by hand or otherwise.

The invention is not limited to the details set forth since variations may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. While I have illustrated a bracelet or band of circular form, it is to be understood that it may be elliptical, or of other suitable curvilinear form.

What I claim is:

1. The process of making a seamless ornamental band having a molded design extending around its periphery, which consists in forming an annular blank of plastic material, molding a design on one face of the blank, and. turning the blank to bring the molded design on the outside or periphery of the band.

2. The process of making a seamless ornamental band having a molded design extending around its periphery which consists in forming an annular blank of plastic material, molding a design on one face of the blank, the opposite face of the blank being flat and smooth, and turning the blank through an angle of approximately ninety degrees to bring the molded design on the outside or the periphery of the band and the smooth surface on the inside.

HAROLD I. FARNSWORTH. 

